{
  "id": 15641442,
  "title": "Unclogging carotid artery fails to improve cognition in clinical trial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/unclogging-carotid-artery-fails-to-improve-cognition-in-clinical-trial",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-19T19:00:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-unclogging-carotid-artery-cognition-clinical.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This clinical trial, called CREST-H, found that procedures to unclog carotid arteries did not improve cognitive function in patients with severe blockages. Despite hopes based on animal studies and case series, a randomized clinical trial of 291 patients showed no difference in cognitive scores between those who underwent stenting or surgery and those who received medication alone. Both groups showed slight improvements in cognition over a one-year period, but revascularization provided no additional cognitive benefit. The study's leader, Dr. Randolph Marshall, emphasizes the importance of preventing carotid stenosis to avoid its consequences.",
  "summary": "Cognition often deteriorates when the brain's main blood vessels are clogged, but a Columbia-led study published in JAMA shows that cognition cannot be improved by opening the blockages with stenting or surgery.",
  "key_points": [
    "CREST-H trial found no cognitive benefit from unclogging carotid arteries",
    "291 patients showed similar cognitive scores with or without revascularization",
    "Dr. Randolph Marshall stresses importance of preventing carotid stenosis"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}